Tyler Mason
Posted: Saturday, March 6, 2010 10:52 pm

Falcons wrestler Cole Wilson (center) stands between White Bear Lake’s Donny Longendyke (left) and Moorhead’s Mark Wychor (right).

ST. PAUL — There was no mistaking the disappointment in Cole Wilson’s voice.

Shortly after the Faribault High School senior dropped a 3-1 decision Saturday to White Bear Lake’s Donny Longendyke in the Class AAA heavyweight championship, Wilson still felt the sting of defeat.

“I did a lot of work to get there, and I just came short,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s road to the title match was an impressive one, as he defeated the No. 3, No. 5 and No. 4 wrestlers in the state, respectively. But Wilson ran into the top-ranked heavyweight Saturday at Xcel Energy Center. Longendyke was a perfect 43-0 on the season, and didn’t falter in the title bout.

“We knew Longendyke was a tough kid,” FHS coach Jesse Armbruster said. “I don’t think too many people gave us a chance. But I definitely think Cole made believers out of a lot of people that he is one of the premier heavyweights in the state.”

Wilson took an early 1-0 lead with an escape in the second period. But the FHS senior gave up two points on three stalling calls, and Longendyke held on for a 3-1 win.

“Neither one of them gave up a takedown,” Armbruster said. “That probably would have been the match.”

Entering Saturday’s championship match, Wilson had already joined his older brothers Brady and Heath by becoming the third member of his family to wrestle for a state title. Yet while he was hoping to follow in Brady’s footsteps with a win, he instead joins Heath as silver medalists.

“Both my brothers made it to the finals. We have one champion and two runners-up,” Wilson said. “I think it will always sting. There’s always that thought of what I could have done. It just keeps going through your head.”

“He wanted to be on the top step,” Armbruster said. “We’re happy. I know when the pain of this loss kind of subsides a little bit, he has an opportunity to reflect on his tournament, his season, his career. He’s going to be able to hold his head very high.”

 

— Sports reporter Tyler Mason may be reached at 333-3119.